In a U-turn, the Italian Sea Group, the company that built the ill-fated Bayesian superyacht, has denied ever suing the widow of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and other crew members for $247 million

In a disgraceful turn of events, the Italian shipbuilder The Italian Sea Group (TISG), which owns Perini, had filed court papers to sue the crew of the Bayesian yacht and tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s widow for damages of $247 million. The complaint was lodged in a Sicilian court on Friday, following the sinking of the $40 million vessel, which made headlines around the globe and led to a loss of earnings for the manufacturer, founded by Giovanni Costantino in the early 1950s. This legal action has understandably irritated Lynch’s family, who are still mourning the tragic loss of Mike, his teenage daughter Hannah, and five others, with funeral dates yet to be set.

This step adds a layer of mystery to the situation and does not bode well for the shipyard’s reputation, as it displays insensitivity by pursuing legal matters at such a difficult time. According to The Times, reports of the legal action were first published in local English and Italian newspapers, including La Nazione and Il Giornale di Sicilia.

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According to ilsole24ore, the shipbuilder denied any such action, “The Italian Sea Group … strongly denies the claims published in La Nazione regarding a legal action following the Bayesian tragedy. Although TISG has given a generic mandate to the lawyers named in the article, no legal representative of the company has examined, signed, or authorized any writ of summons.”

The case filed concerns the sinking of the 184ft vessel Bayesian on 19 August in Porticello. The ill-fated vessel that boasted the world’s largest aluminum mast fell prey to freak weather conditions. The names of the captain, James Cutfield from New Zealand, two crew members from Camper & Nicholsons (the yacht management company responsible for hiring the crew), and Revtom (the company that owned the Bayesian, controlled by Lynch’s widow, Angela Bacares) have been included in the filing.

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Divers examining the wreck of the Bayesian.

This incident serves as a shocking reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea. Mike Lynch, known as Britain’s Bill Gates, faced numerous challenges, including 15 fraud charges that threatened to imprison him for life; however, he could not overcome the forces of nature. The Italian shipyard, concerned about its reputation, should have recognized that they were the ones who termed the ship unsinkable, yet it still went down in 60 seconds. It seems the damage was already done.

According to Esysman Superyachts, many clients pulled out of deals once news of the sinking broke, and potential buyers and investors distanced themselves from the Perini world, as did a stirred European fashion house that was set to brand a line of boats.